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1 Potential Catalyst to Send This Cheap Stock Soaring

This stock trades on the cheap, and perhaps for good reasons. But it won't take much to send this soda-maker skyward.

When investors think of Dr Pepper Snapple Group(NYSE:DPS), a multibagger opportunity probably doesn't come to mind. After all, the company's No. 1 product -- Dr. Pepper -- is smack dab in the middle of the carbonated-drink category, which health-conscious consumers are beginning to shun for more healthy options. As a result, management expects net sales to be completely flat for fiscal 2013.

In addition to a tough carbonated-drink climate, Dr Pepper failed to outperform the S&P 500 index over the past three years, though it did surpass the returns of megacompetitors Coca-Cola(NYSE:KO) and PepsiCo(NASDAQ:PEP).

Yet even in this situation, I believe that not only is Dr Pepper cheap right now, there's also one major catalyst for this company not priced into the stock. Getting in today -- in spite of touch economic conditions and general bearish sentiment -- could present investors with a multibagger opportunity.

Dr Pepper is cheapTo determine a stock's value, we can look at several different metrics -- P/E ratio, price/book value, and even dividend yield. No matter how you slice it, Dr Pepper looks cheap.

First, Dr Pepper has a P/E ratio of around 16. This is cheaper than competitors Coca-Cola (20) and PepsiCo (19) and also below the industry average of 20. But it's not just cheap when compared to competitors, it's also cheap when compared to itself over the past three years.

And finally, Dr Pepper is cheap when considering its dividend yield -- currently sitting at 3.1%. This beats out Coca-Cola's 2.8% and PepsiCo's 2.9%. The dividend has been paid out every quarter since it was started in December 2009 and has increased 150% during that time.

Incredible portfolioDr Pepper isn't a one-trick pony. This company's portfolio is bursting at the seams with recognizable brands. It owns megabrands such as Dr Pepper, Snapple, and Country Time, as well as easily recognizable brands that include Hawaiian Punch, Yoo-hoo, 7-Up, and A&W Root Beer. It even controls small brands with cult-like followings like Sun Drop and Cactus Cooler.

However the company doesn't just have a large beverage portfolio but a diversified snack division as well with its Mott's brand. Since this brand is mostly natural fruit products, it gives the company a bit of a buffer as consumers change habits. While the Dr Pepper brand was down 1% in the last quarter, Mott's was up 1%.

While not as diverse as PepsiCo, Dr Pepper does have enough diversification to steady itself during tough times.

The potential catalystDr Pepper's management is blaming flat results on a tough consumer environment, and potential investors do need to heed this assessment. But one issue not being talked about is the impact of Dr Pepper's current market penetration.

According to Beverage Digest's top-10 brands by sales, Dr Pepper is No. 5 and Diet Dr Pepper is No. 10, gobbling up 6.5% and 1.8% of the United States' market share in 2012 (the most recent data compilation), respectively. Sure, it's still a long ways from Coca-Cola's industry-leading 17% market share, but two top-10 brands is nothing to sneeze at.

This data shows that Dr. Pepper doesn't have too much room to grow domestically, but therein lies the hidden opportunity. Currently the company only does business in North America, leaving a huge international runway for growth. Consider that in 2008, only 8% of Monster Beverage's (NASDAQ:MNST) sales came from abroad.

In fiscal 2012 (the latest full-year results) international sales made up 22% of the company's sales and accounted for 31% of the company's sales growth. Although it already has a presence in more than 90 countries, this growth trend will continue as it makes investments in big economies like South Korea and India.

For Dr Pepper, the ball is already rolling. In March it announced that it had reobtained the distribution rights from Mondeléz International for Snapple (and other beverages) in key Asian-Pacific countries like Japan, South Korea, and China. This move is likely a signal that management is beginning to think toward international expansion -- the greatest untapped opportunity this company has.

It's worth mentioning that this is an opportunity that Coca-Cola and PepsiCo don't have anymore. With a large international presence already, these two companies have already capitalized on the market that awaits Dr Pepper.

The multibagging conclusionAn investment in any carbonated-beverage manufacturer is not without risk. A mild consumer shift is happening. But I believe there's very little downside in a Dr Pepper Snapple investment. With its low valuation and better than 3% dividend yield, it should at the very least continue to perform with the market.

But should the company capitalize on its tremendous international opportunity, this stock could become a multibagger.

Jon Quast has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Coca-Cola, Monster Beverage, and PepsiCo. The Motley Fool owns shares of Coca-Cola, Monster Beverage, and PepsiCo. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Author

I've been a contributor with the Motley Fool since 2012. My love of good food keeps me mostly analyzing the restaurant sector. But I'll jump into any sector when I see a shining value opportunity. Follow @Quastman